Senior HR Director - Americas

Job Description

Job Description

Cognite operates at the forefront of industrial digitalization, building AI and data solutions that solve some of the world's hardest, highest-impact problems. With unmatched industrial heritage and a comprehensive suite of AI capabilities, including low-code AI agents, Cognite accelerates the digital transformation to drive operational improvements.

Our moonshot is bold: unlock $100B in customer value by 2035 and redefine how global industry works. What Cognite is Relentless to achieve

We thrive in challenges. We challenge assumptions. We execute with speed and ownership. If you view obstacles as signals to step forward - not step back - you'll feel at home here. Join us in this venture where AI and data meet ingenuity, and together, we forge the path to a smarter, more connected industrial future.

Location: This hybrid role is based in our new HQ in Tempe, AZ. We will pay relocation bonus for the right candidate so you can join us in the office at least 3-days per week to collaborate with other members of the People team as well as senior executives managers. How you'll demonstrate Ownership

Cognite is seeking a Senior Human Resources Director (Americas) to serve as the principal Employee Relations partner and HR advisor for the Americas organization. This role is optimal for someone who can design simple, scalable solutions while maintaining the stakeholder influence and business acumen to drive adoption and impact.

Strategic Leadership

• Serve as the principal employee relations leader for the Americas, acting as trusted advisor to regional and global leadership while aligning business priorities with compliant, scalable people practices across a multi-state footprint
• Drive organizational synergy by partnering with global counterparts (Norway/India) and local specialists (PBPs, OD, and People Ops). You will ensure that global standards for leadership and policy are translated into seamless, accountable workflows that enhance the local employee lifecycle.
• Scale global People initiatives within the Americas by balancing execution rigor with a deep understanding of the U.S. landscape. You will act as a strategic contributor to the global People function, ensuring that regional nuances enhance—rather than hinder—organization-wide alignment and excellence.

Policy Development & Infrastructure

• Review, assess, and continuously improve existing People policies and the U.S. employee handbook, ensuring clarity, accessibility, compliance, and alignment with Cognite's culture and values
• Design and implement pragmatic, user-friendly policies that are simple to understand and straightforward to execute—avoiding unnecessary complexity while maintaining legal rigor and business relevance
• Translate complex employment law and regulatory requirements into clear, actionable guidance for managers and employees
• Drive consistency and scalability in policy application across geographies, partnering with global peers to harmonize where appropriate while respecting local legal requirements
• Partner with Legal to ensure policies effectively mitigate risk while supporting a high-trust, high-performance culture

Employee Relations & Compliance

• Own employee relations across the Americas, including complex investigations, corrective actions, performance management, and terminations, ensuring fairness, consistency, and compliance with local legislation
• Maintain deep, current expertise in U.S. federal employment law and multi-state regulations, with emphasis on Texas and Arizona compliance requirements
• Design and continuously refine risk-mitigation frameworks and investigation protocols to proactively address compliance risks across jurisdictions
• Partner strategically with Legal on sensitive employee matters, litigation prevention, and regulatory compliance initiatives
• Execute terminations and sensitive HR interventions with composure, discretion, and alignment with legal requirements

Immigration & Global Mobility

• Oversee immigration matters,and compliance with Department of Homeland Security requirements in partnership with internal and external Legal where required
• Manage global mobility arrangements for U.S.-based employees on international assignment

The Impact you bring to Cognite

The ideal candidate brings the credibility, judgment, and perspective of a senior HR leader, paired with the agility and curiosity of a practitioner who values being close to the work. You will play a pivotal role in scaling the HR foundation for the Americas, strengthening alignment with Cognite's global People strategy, and reinforcing Cognite's mission and values across every stage of the employee lifecycle.

You are equally comfortable crafting strategy for leaders and rolling up your sleeves to design a simple, elegant employee handbook. You understand that the best policies are the ones people actually use—and you know how to balance legal rigor with practical simplicity.

• Trusted Advisor Status: Recognized as a proactive, trusted advisor to senior leaders, line-level managers, and global People Business Partners—providing sound judgment and practical solutions to complex people challenges with credibility across the organization
• Compliance & Operational Excellence: A robust compliance and employee relations foundation established across multiple U.S. states, ensuring operational excellence, reduced risk exposure, and consistent application of policies
• Policy & Infrastructure Excellence: Modernized, simplified employee handbook and policy suite that employees and managers find clear, accessible, and easy to apply—resulting in reduced ambiguity, improved compliance, and enhanced manager confidence.

Leadership Development: Enhanced leadership capability across the organization through coaching, feedback, and development partnerships with people managers

Experience & Background

• 12+ years of progressive HR experience, including 5+ years in a senior-level HR Director, HRBP, or People Operations role managing multi-state operations
• Track record supporting scaling SaaS or technology organizations through hypergrowth phases, with demonstrated comfort navigating ambiguity and change
• Deep expertise in U.S. employment law, compliance, and employee relations, with proven success advising leaders in complex multi-state environments
• Demonstrated success designing, reviewing, and improving employee handbooks and policy frameworks—with a strong bias toward simplicity, clarity, and usability over complexity
• Proven ability to establish strong collaborative partnerships with People Business Partners, Organizational Development teams, and cross-functional peers in matrixed, global environments
• Experience building or refining People operating models, with clear understanding of how to divide responsibilities, streamline workflows, and enable seamless collaboration across HR functions

A snapshot of our many perks and benefits as a Cogniter

* Competitive compensation

* 401(k) with employer matching

* Competitive health, dental, vision & disability coverages for employees and all dependents

* Unlimited PTO

* Paid Parental Leave Program

* Employee Referral Program

* Join a team of 60+ different nationalities with Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) in focus .

* A highly modern and fun working environment with sublime culture across the organization, follow us on Instagram @cognitedata to know more

* Opportunity to work with and learn from some of the best people on some of the most ambitious projects found anywhere, across industries

* Join our HUB ️ to be part of the conversation directly with Cogniters and our partners.

* Paid mobile phone and WiFi

Equal Opportunity

Cognite is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment at work and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive the same level of consideration for employment.